Have you ever heard your mother lament that she wishes she hadn't gotten rid of a "trendy" piece in the past upon seeing you wear the trend in the present? (Probably on multiple occasions, right?) As you know, history repeats itself, especially when it comes to fashion. These days, it seems that every year brings with it a new decade to revive. For example, last year's '90s craze is currently making way for this year's '80s resurgence.
When editing your wardrobe each season, it can be tempting to purge it of trendy pieces you may be tired of wearing or that may not feel as fresh as they did last year. But history has ultimately shown that the most significant trends will likely return. To find out what the current trends are that keep coming back, we reached out to Marissa Benedetto, the lead stylist at top online luxury resale store The RealReal. (Its inventory is a fashion girl's dream.)
Benedetto has her finger on the pulse of returning trends and gave us a slew of insight into which ones you should hang on to. After all, wouldn't it be nice to wear or pass down your very own vintage pieces when they come back around? Keep scrolling to see which trends you'll regret tossing, according to Benedetto (with both historical and present-day street style examples), and shop our picks for each!
Keep reading to see the trend being worn in present-day.
OFF-THE-SHOULDER
"Shoulder-baring frocks can be dated back to the Victorian era when they were paired with lace, frills, and hooped hems. We are now seeing some really exciting versions of this style, particularly in reworked button-down shirting," Benedetto says.
Our Pick:
Available in sizes 0 to 6 plus. Check out off-the-shoulder pieces on The RealReal here.
SLIP DRESSES
"We're finally seeing the comeback of the '90s slip dress. As a newer trend with less history, we have been able to play with such a wide range of outfit formulas. There is still so much we can do with this piece, so I'm holding onto mine for the next few seasons," Benedetto says.
Our Pick:
Available in sizes XS to L. Check out slip dresses on The RealReal here.
WEDGIE JEANS
"Originally made popular by Levi's, this trend has made an appearance in every decade on celebrities from Marilyn Monroe to an early Winona Ryder to Rihanna. Their high-waisted nature is so flattering on the bum—they're the ultimate cool-girl staple. I've seen great adaptations from Acne and Brock Collection," Benedetto says.
Our Pick:
Available in sizes 24 to 32.Check out jeans on The RealReal here.
PLATFORMS
"Platform shoes were originally established in the '40s but really didn't become popularized until the '70s. They're such a fun way to play with height without the pain of stilettos," Benedetto says.
Our Pick:
Available in sizes 34 to 42.Check out platforms on The RealReal here.
SHEERS
"Sheer is another trend I don't believe our fashion history has completely fleshed out. While the 1993 photographs of Kate Moss in a sheer slip dress will never be forgotten, recently it seems the industry has gotten really creative in its uses of the fabric, from strategically placed mesh inserts in athleisure to sheer red carpet dresses with embellishment," Benedetto says.
Our Pick:
Not sure how to style this? Do as the model does.Check out sheer pieces on The RealReal here.
STATEMENT EARRINGS
"There has always been a version of the statement earring trend throughout history, and there always will be! A great example of this revival is the major '60s-era icon Twiggy. Costume or fine, statement earrings are the only piece of jewelry you need right now," Benedetto says.
Our Pick:
We can't think of an outfit these wouldn't complement. Check out statement earrings on The RealReal here.
WIDE-LEG TROUSERS
"Introduced in the '40s, this is when women were getting really fearless in straying from dress and skirt pieces and wearing something that was actually comfortable! I'm always on board with a trend that has such an empowering history," Benedetto says.
Our Pick:
Available in sizes 0 to 12.Check out wide-leg trousers on The RealReal here.
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